Sony’s Until Dawn Movie Adaptation Strays Too Far From Its Source

From Wendigos to Weak Links How Sony's Until Dawn Adaptation Misses the Mark

When adapting a beloved video game into a movie, one expects a faithful translation of its core elements. Sony’s “First Look” at its Until Dawn adaptation, however, seems to discard nearly everything that made the original game a hit. Gone are the chilling winter landscapes, the claustrophobic dread, and the wendigos that terrorized players. Instead, we’re left with what appears to be a generic disaster movie with a new cast of teens and a less menacing setting. If not for the title, you’d be hard-pressed to connect this adaptation to the critically acclaimed horror game at all. The game’s cinematic DNA made it a standout experience, featuring intricate character arcs, moral dilemmas, and the terrifying unknown lurking in a remote, snow-covered lodge. But the adaptation veers into a drastically different direction. While the game’s choice-driven narrative and psychological tension were its hallmarks, the movie’s premise involves characters being killed nightly by varying threats, only to be revived the next day to try again. While intriguing as a standalone concept, it feels disconnected from what Until Dawn fans expect.

One glimmer of hope is the casting of Peter Stormare, known to fans as the voice of Dr. Hill in the game. While Stormare is a talented actor who can elevate any project, even he might not be enough to salvage what looks like a deviation too far from its source material. Adapting video games into films is always a tricky endeavor, but this particular choice feels especially baffling. Much like the Uncharted movie, which rehashed tropes already perfected in Indiana Jones, this adaptation seems redundant. The beauty of Until Dawn lay in its ability to make players feel like directors of their own horror movie. Stripping away its signature elements reduces it to just another horror flick. As a standalone film, Until Dawn might still be worth watching. But for fans of the game, it risks being a disappointment that misses the point entirely.